Education Programs

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Most people look at the Science Center as a fun and educational place to go on a Saturday afternoon...

What they might not realize is that we’re also trusted partners to the school systems of the areas we serve. Our educational programs supplement traditional classroom learning with a valuable informal education and serve to build on the foundation of knowledge kids gain in school. Most importantly, they further the mission of increasing competency in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) competency.

Our educational programs include:

Field Trips

Off-Site Programs

School Break Camps

Summer Camps & Academy

Science Competitions

Homeschool Programs

Scout Programs

And much more

These activities enhance classroom experience and provide students with a different way of looking at science, math and technology.

Collin currently attends Cocoa Beach High School in Brevard County and is anything but your typical high school senior. Participating in the International Baccalaureate Program, Collin has had the opportunity to do and present scientific research since his middle school days. As a Melbourne Beach resident, he developed a love for the ocean and that love has inspired the research that he has entered in this year’s Dr. Ying Science Competition.

His entry focuses on research into karenia brevis, the organism responsible for the Florida red tide. He has investigated and invented a new, simple and inexpensive method of detection for the most harmful brevetoxin in the red tides, PbTx-3. His ultimate goal is to stop the damage to our ecosystem from these harmful red tides. If successful, he could one day save millions of species of marine life plus positively impact Florida’s fishing and tourism industries.

Collin has won numerous awards for past research, including the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge’s “Planet Green” Award in 2007 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s “Taking the Pulse of the Planet” Award in 2009. He received a scholarship from the U.S. Navy in 2009 and in 2010 he completed an internship during the summer with the NOAA Center for Costal Environmental Health and Bimolecular Research in Charleston, NC. Collin won the Ying Competition in 2009 and 2010, and is looking forward to another exciting competitive experience.

"My whole my life, I was raised in a household with a mom who always pushed me to do my absolute best. For the majority of my elder years my dad hasn’t lived with us, and my mom has reared me by herself. I have always had a dog in my house, so naturally I’m a dog lover. I have a huge heart for animals and people alike and I always find myself going out of my way to help, even if it’s something little.

I’m very frugal with money, but I love to make people smile so in-turn small bills get turned into gifts all too frequently. I’ve always been the friend in the group that keeps us smiling, and in the same sense I’ve been the friend that pushes the group to stay on the right road. I personally have seen too many good friends go down the wrong road and end up ruining their lives. On many occasions you can catch me having a talk with a buddy and hopefully guiding them in a better direction. As a kid, I’m extremely outgoing and friendly. I will always be the first one to spark conversation and I can’t stand people that are stand-offish.

On an academic and school level, I have always associated myself with honors students and student athletes. I’m in-fact a multiple sport athlete competing in golf, football, weightlifting, baseball, and basketball. I spread myself among a lot of high school “cliques” because of how many things I participate with. Science and science fair have always been a passion of mine. Since middle school I have been in all honors courses and multiple extracurricular activities. Starting in 5th grade I have participated and won something in both math field day and Science fair. My 8th grade year my science fair project placed 1st in the state. My freshman year I placed 2nd in the international science fair. As you can see I’m extremely dedicated and passionate in the science field.

During my junior year I started taking more dual enrollment courses and minimizing my elective classes, in order to rise in the class ranks. I’ve since moved from rank 22 to number three. I also wanted to be more active in my school so I am Class president, vice president of the law academy, marketing director of the future business leaders of America, science club president, student council member, and National Honors Society member. I am a very hard worker, and loyal person. I do everything in my ability to live up to and exceed my own and my mentor’s expectations."

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER, A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH2342), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.